The Agony of a Demonic Birth

Su Xiaoxiao clutched her belly. After her vision cleared and she recognized Gu Yan, she cried out.

“Gu Yan, my stomach hurts so much…”

That soft, pained utterance sent a jolt of terror through Gu Yan. She quickly asked Su Xiaoxiao about the nature of her pain, then proceeded to take her pulse.

Fortunately, the little fish-cub in her womb proved resilient, merely stirring restlessly without any intention of emerging just yet.

Su Xiaoxiao was both in pain and deeply distressed. Gu Yan found herself unable to soothe her, leaving her with no choice but to summon Yunxian to assist in taking Su Xiaoxiao’s pulse.

For some unknown reason, Yunxian had been with Yunli that evening. Now, both of them hurried over in a panicked rush.

“Elder…” Su Xiaoxiao’s eyes immediately welled up with tears upon seeing them.

Yunxian instantly grasped her hand, his face paling with alarm. “What happened? Why is your stomach suddenly hurting when you were fine just moments ago?!”

Gu Yan, standing nearby, offered a faint reply. “Xiyue… she came by earlier…”

Yunxian’s expression turned exceedingly grim, his fury almost palpable. “How dare she come bothering us again?! Every time she visits, Xiaoxiao suffers! If she ever dares to bully my little fish again, I swear I’ll fight her to the death!”

Gu Yan dared not speak ill of Xiyue, but Su Xiaoxiao continued to cry out in pain.

She could only change the subject, urging Yunxian. “Why is Xiaoxiao’s pain so severe today? I’ve already taken her pulse; it doesn’t seem like premature labor.”

Gu Yan, in truth, lacked confidence. Su Xiaoxiao was a Mermaid, and while Gu Yan possessed medical knowledge, she had never delivered a Mermaid baby before. She was uncertain what symptoms a Mermaid in labor might exhibit.

Yunxian furrowed his brows, taking Su Xiaoxiao’s hand to check her pulse. Soon, he announced, “It’s time for the baby to come, but not immediately.”

Su Xiaoxiao was stunned, and Gu Yan grew tense alongside her.

Yunxian explained, “Her fetal energy has been disturbed, and the baby will arrive, but it will take one or two days.”

This meant Su Xiaoxiao would have to endure a grueling one to two days. Yunxian’s brows tightened upon hearing this.

At this, Su Xiaoxiao’s tears fell even more violently, her cries soft and delicate.

Yunxian could only try to comfort her. “It seems the little one can’t wait to meet you, Xiaoxiao. Don’t be so sad; it’s too draining on your strength.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, yet she still couldn’t control her tears. Yunxian gently stroked her head. “I’ll go inform the Clan Leader right away. Xiaoxiao, you have nothing to fear. With Elder Yunxian here, he will ensure your safety.”

“Xiaoxiao’s condition is stable for now. Stay here and look after her; I’ll go prepare everything we need,” Yunxian instructed Gu Yan, detailing what to watch out for.

Seeing Yunxian about to leave, Su Xiaoxiao cried out. “Don’t go! Elder, please don’t go!”

Yunxian tried to soothe her…

Gu Yan explained, “Perhaps she’s too distressed. She might be having trouble distinguishing reality from delusion.”

Su Xiaoxiao was indeed in such a state. Her stomach hurt so intensely that her vision blurred, and in her daze, she even imagined herself to be in the Demon Realm.

The agonizing pain in her belly and the overwhelming discomfort in her body made her disregard whether the Elder before her was real or imagined. She simply refused to let them leave.

“…Don’t go… Elder.” Su Xiaoxiao wept uncontrollably.

Yunfa was extremely anxious. She had endured immense suffering when she gave birth to Xilin, so she naturally understood the extent of Su Xiaoxiao’s current torment.

“Xiaoxiao, you must listen. You truly cannot cry anymore. You need to conserve your strength, understand?”

Yunfa comforted her with a pained heart. “I’ll be back very soon, my dear.”

“It hurts so much, Elder.”

Su Xiaoxiao seemed incapable of hearing Yunfa’s words, leaving all three of them helpless and at a loss for what to do.

Yunfa truly couldn’t bear to see Su Xiaoxiao in such agony. She turned to Gu Yan, who stood beside her, and said, “If you witness anything shortly, please do not let anyone outside know.”

“Understood, I won’t say a word,” Gu Yan affirmed with a nod.

Yunfa waved her hand, then astonishingly began to transfer spiritual energy to Su Xiaoxiao.

Yunfa tried to dissuade her, but it was too late. She could only murmur, “Your body, too…”

“I’m fine,” Yunfa replied. “I’ll act within my limits.”

Childbirth had always been a painful ordeal, yet Su Xiaoxiao’s intense reaction stemmed from her depleted spiritual energy and damaged spiritual meridians. Furthermore, the little fish-cub in her womb possessed half of Xiyue’s demonic bloodline, which naturally exacerbated Su Xiaoxiao’s suffering.

Yunfa had long considered this possibility. Not long ago, she had discussed it with several others: if Su Xiaoxiao’s demonic fetus proved stubborn during labor, they would have to protect Su Xiaoxiao, shielding her with their spiritual energy.

Should the demonic fetus threaten Su Xiaoxiao’s safety, they would be forced to resort to the ultimate measure.

They would have to surgically open her belly and remove the fetus.

The only drawback was that Su Xiaoxiao’s abdomen would bear a scar, which was considered exceptionally unsightly for a Mermaid. Hence, this was truly a last resort.

Yunfa was a Mermaid, and since she began cultivating, her spiritual energy had remained impeccably pure.

While the little fish-cub adored Xiyue’s spiritual energy, it was Yunfa’s spiritual energy that both Su Xiaoxiao and the little fish-cub favored.

The pain receded considerably, no longer as unbearable as it had been moments before.

Seizing this opportunity, Yunfa went to prepare the necessary items and also invited Yunxiao to come.

None of them had anticipated Su Xiaoxiao would go into labor so soon.

“My… my little fish-cub’s name hasn’t even been chosen yet,”

Yunfa said, feeling troubled.

Yunfa turned around, taking a step back. Finally, she seized Gu Yan’s collar, intending to settle accounts with her and vent her dissatisfaction with Xiyue onto Gu Yan.

“You, come out with us. We have something to discuss with you.”

Gu Yan was speechless, stifling a choked sound. ‘Something to discuss,’ she thought, ‘clearly you just want to beat me up.’ Yet, she reflected that if she had come earlier tonight to comfort Su Xiaoxiao, she surely would have noticed her abnormality.

She also blamed herself. At the time, she had thought allowing Su Xiaoxiao more interaction with Xiyue, letting Xiyue offer a few more soothing words, would calm Su Xiaoxiao down.

Instead, the outcome was counterproductive. That useless Xiyue not only failed to appease the little fish-cub but also enraged Su Xiaoxiao to the point of attacking her heart, causing her to go into premature labor from grief.

She blamed Xiyue for her incompetence, and herself for failing to even notice when Xiyue had departed.

‘If anything truly happened to Su Xiaoxiao…’

Gu Yan shivered, dreading to imagine the consequences. Not only would the Mermaid clan surely hold her accountable, but Xiyue herself would likely seek trouble with her.

After Gu Yan and Yunli stepped outside, they walked to a secluded corner beside a large tree. Gu Yan did not retaliate, allowing Yunli to hit her. She knew it was her own fault, and she couldn’t blame anyone else.

****

This night was destined to be sleepless. Even Dailin awoke and learned of the situation. She dressed quickly and rushed over, only to find Yunli transferring spiritual energy to Su Xiaoxiao, a sight that filled her with panic.

“Mother, your body…”

Yunli dismissed her concern. “Mother is fine; there’s no need to worry.”

After delivering two punches to Gu Yan, Yunli released her. Dailin, likewise, remained by Yunli’s side. “Let me take over,” she urged. “Are you still in the same state as during the great war with the demon race thousands of years ago? Have you forgotten the injuries you sustained back then?”

Yunli did not let go of Su Xiaoxiao, merely reassuring her softly, “I know my limits when it comes to my own affairs.”

Yunli returned, having prepared the necessary items. “This location won’t do,” he declared. “There’s no flowing water here. We must take her to the Life-Giving Pool. Xiaoxiao needs water.”

Su Xiaoxiao, surprisingly, found that she had received Yunli’s spiritual energy. She even managed to walk to the Life-Giving Pool herself, albeit with assistance.

****

The Divine Tree of Eternal Life, bestowed upon the Mermaid clan by the Heavenly Dao countless millennia ago, possessed the power to protect them from extinction for eons and even resurrect deceased Mermaids.

Its trunk was entwined with ancient runes, from which faint dragon roars and phoenix cries could be heard. The branches and trunk were embedded with starlight spirits that shimmered with the wind. Its jade-green leaves emanated the celestial aura of life and stars, capable of healing all.

The waters of the Life-Giving Pool, formed from the Divine Tree and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, were crystal clear and exuded a refreshing fragrance. They possessed even greater efficacy than the Divine Tree itself. Adjacent to the Divine Tree of Eternal Life, a barrier had been erected, ensuring no one would enter this sacred place on ordinary days.

****

Su Xiaoxiao’s condition was truly complex. After Yunli transferred spiritual energy to her, her face was pallid, and her steps were somewhat unsteady.

Dailin, fearing Yunli might lose her footing and faint, refused to return to rest. She remained steadfastly by Yunli’s side, impossible to send away.

Dailin didn’t understand why they had to come all this way. “Do Mermaids always come here to give birth? Will I have to come here when I have children?”

She genuinely didn’t know. Yunli, usually so fond of her sarcastic retorts, didn’t engage in their usual banter this time. Instead, she spoke like a true elder, explaining to Dailin.

“Su Xiaoxiao’s situation is unlike that of other Mermaids. This child inherited the demon race’s bloodline, possessing half of Xiyue’s heritage—a demon race steeped in sin. Do you truly believe the Heavenly Dao is blind, so easily deceived?”

“Xiaoxiao is enduring all this suffering precisely because this is Xiyue’s child. How could such a birth possibly be easy for her?!”